How to Rent in Costa Rica as a Foreigner (2026 Guide)

By Taraji Abroad

Costa Rica has a reputation as the easiest Central American country for Canadians to land in — stable, safe, English-friendly in the right areas, and with a cost of living that still gives you breathing room. But the rental market has its own logic, and it does not work the way it does back home.

If you’re used to Rentals.ca and standardized leases, the Costa Rican approach will feel informal. Most of it runs through Facebook groups and word of mouth. Contracts exist but vary wildly in quality. And the difference between what a tourist pays and what a long-term resident pays for the same neighbourhood can be enormous.

Here is how it actually works — where to look, what to pay, what the law says, and what to watch for.

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All figures in CAD unless noted.

The Costa Rica Rental Market: What You Need to Know First

The first distinction to understand is furnished versus unfurnished.

Most long-term rentals in Costa Rica are unfurnished. When we say unfurnished here, we mean genuinely empty — in some cases, that includes no kitchen cabinets, no light fixtures, and no curtain rods. If you are coming from Canada, where “unfurnished” usually still means a functioning kitchen and bathroom fixtures, this can be a surprise.

Furnished rentals are more common in expat-heavy areas — the Central Valley towns of Escazu, Santa Ana, Atenas, and Grecia, plus the Pacific coast beach towns. They are also more common for shorter stays. If you are arriving for six months to a year, furnished is the practical choice, and the supply in expat areas is adequate.

Leases are typically priced in colones (CRC) or US dollars, depending on the area. Expat-oriented rentals in Escazu or the beach towns tend to be priced in USD. Local-market rentals in less touristy areas are priced in colones. This matters because the currency you pay in affects your exchange costs every month.

For the full cost picture in the most popular region for Canadian expats, see our cost of living guide for Costa Rica’s Central Valley.

Where to Find Rentals

There is no single dominant listing platform in Costa Rica the way Idealista serves Portugal or Renthub serves Thailand. The market is fragmented, which means you need to check multiple channels.

Facebook groups are the primary marketplace for expat-friendly rentals. “Expats in Costa Rica,” “Escazu Classifieds,” “Costa Rica Real Estate — Rentals,” and area-specific groups for Atenas, Grecia, Tamarindo, and other popular towns. Landlords post directly with photos and pricing. Scroll through recent posts, message the ones that interest you, and set up viewings. This is where most long-stay foreigners find their housing.

Encuentra24.com is the largest general classifieds site in Costa Rica, with a decent rental section. Listings skew toward the local market, which means lower prices but fewer furnished options. Worth checking for a sense of what the non-tourist market looks like.

CRrentals.com and similar expat-focused sites aggregate furnished rentals aimed at foreigners. Prices tend to be higher than what you would find through local channels, but the listings are pre-filtered for English speakers and short-to-medium-term stays.

Local real estate agents are useful, especially in the Central Valley. Agents who work with expats know which landlords are reliable, which buildings have recurring issues, and which neighbourhoods are overpriced. They are paid by the landlord, not by you, so there is no cost to using them.

Word of mouth in expat communities fills a surprising number of rentals. Once you are on the ground and talking to people at the Saturday market in Escazu or at a coffee shop in Atenas, leads appear. Some of the best-value rentals never get listed online because the landlord fills them through referrals.

Our recommendation: Book an Airbnb or short-term furnished place for your first two to three weeks, then search in person. Photos lie. Neighbourhoods feel different at street level. And prices drop when you are standing in the landlord’s living room instead of emailing from Toronto. We cover this approach in detail in our guide to common rental mistakes Canadians make abroad.

For a neighbourhood-level breakdown of where to look, see our guide to the best neighbourhoods in the Central Valley for expats.

What to Expect: Deposits, Leases, and Utilities

Security deposits are typically one to two months’ rent. You will also pay the first month upfront. So moving into a furnished place at $1,000 CAD/month means $2,000-$3,000 CAD on day one. Get the deposit terms in writing — specifically, what conditions trigger deductions and the timeline for its return after you leave.

Lease terms vary by rental type. Unfurnished long-term leases run one to three years. Furnished places aimed at expats usually offer six-month to one-year terms, sometimes with month-to-month options after the initial period. Shorter furnished leases exist but command higher monthly rates.

Utilities are the tenant’s responsibility in almost all cases. Budget $100-200 CAD/month in the Central Valley for electricity, water, and internet combined. Electricity is the biggest variable — air conditioning drives the bill up significantly in coastal areas, while the Central Valley’s mild climate means many homes don’t need it at all. Ask what is included before you sign. Some furnished rentals bundle internet or water into the rent; most do not.

What landlords may ask for: A passport is standard. Some landlords, especially for higher-value properties, will ask for proof of income, bank statements, or references from a previous landlord. Residency status is not typically required — tourists and perpetual tourists (the 90-day visa-run crowd) rent without issue. But having a pensionado or rentista visa can make landlords more comfortable with longer commitments.

Furnished means furnished. A properly furnished Costa Rican rental includes furniture, kitchen equipment, dishes, linens, and appliances. But confirm the inventory before signing. “Furnished” has different meanings to different landlords. Ask for a list, and check it against what is actually in the unit on move-in day.

Common Mistakes

We see the same ones repeatedly, and they are all avoidable.

Signing without visiting in person. Facebook photos can make a dim, noisy apartment look bright and peaceful. Fly down first, or at minimum, ask for a live video walkthrough with the camera pointed at the things that matter — the view from the windows, the street noise, the water pressure, the actual kitchen (not just the one angle that looks good).

Not checking the neighbourhood at different times of day. A quiet residential street at 10 AM can be next to a bar district that runs until 3 AM. A road that feels safe in daylight might have poor lighting at night. Visit morning and evening before you commit.

Not clarifying which utilities are included. Assuming internet is included when it is not — or discovering the electric bill is $150 CAD/month because the place runs on air conditioning — changes your budget math meaningfully.

Paying a large deposit without a proper contract. An oral agreement is technically enforceable in Costa Rica, but proving its terms without a written document is another matter. Always get a written lease. Always get deposit terms in writing. No exceptions.

Renting in a tourist area at tourist prices. Tamarindo, Jaco, and parts of the southern Nicoya Peninsula price their rentals for short-term visitors. A place that costs $1,500 USD/month to a tourist renting by the month might be available at $800 USD/month on a six-month lease — or a similar place two neighbourhoods inland might be $500. The further you get from the tourist strip, the closer you get to local pricing.

Your Legal Protections

Costa Rica’s Ley de Arrendamientos (rental law) provides real protections for tenants, and these protections apply equally to foreigners.

Right to occupy for the full lease term. A landlord cannot simply ask you to leave mid-lease. Early eviction requires a court process with demonstrated legal grounds. This gives you stability — once you have a signed lease, you have security of tenure.

Rent increases are capped. Increases are tied to the national inflation index, which prevents a landlord from doubling your rent at renewal time. The specifics of the cap can change, so confirm current rates when signing.

Written leases are strongly recommended. While oral contracts are technically valid under Costa Rican law, a written lease protects both parties. It should cover the rental amount, payment schedule, deposit terms, lease duration, renewal conditions, who pays for repairs, and the process for ending the agreement. If the lease is in Spanish and your Spanish is not strong, have it reviewed by someone you trust before signing.

Get everything about the deposit in writing. The deposit is the number one source of disputes between landlords and foreign tenants. The lease should specify the deposit amount, what conditions allow the landlord to make deductions, and the timeline for returning the deposit after you vacate. Photograph the unit thoroughly on move-in day and share those photos with the landlord in writing (email or WhatsApp) so there is a record.

For a broader look at how rental laws work across our covered countries, see our rental lease guide for Mexico, Portugal, and Thailand.

Money Tips

The upfront cost of renting in Costa Rica is real. First month plus deposit means two to three months’ rent transferred before you move in.

Pay via bank transfer, not cash. Cash payments leave no paper trail. If a deposit dispute arises later, a bank transfer is evidence. A cash handover is your word against theirs. Some landlords prefer cash — politely insist on transfer, or at minimum get a signed receipt with the amount, date, and purpose.

Currency conversion matters. If your rent is priced in USD or CRC and your income is in CAD, you are converting money every month. Using Wise for CAD-to-USD or CAD-to-CRC transfers saves meaningfully compared to a Canadian bank wire — typically 1-3% better on the exchange rate plus lower flat fees. Over a year of rent payments, the savings add up to hundreds of dollars. It is one of the first things worth setting up.

Open a local bank account when you can. Paying from a Costa Rican bank account simplifies everything — rent, utilities, internet, groceries. The major banks (Banco Nacional, BAC Credomatic) work with foreign residents, though the process takes patience and paperwork. A residency visa makes this significantly easier.

The Short Version

Costa Rica’s rental market rewards patience and in-person searching. Book a short-term place for your first weeks. Check Facebook groups and local agents. Visit units at different times of day. Get everything in writing — especially the deposit. Pay by bank transfer. And do not pay tourist prices for a long-term stay.

The rental process here is less formal than what you are used to in Canada, which is both its advantage and its risk. The advantage is flexibility and speed. The risk is vagueness — about terms, about deposits, about what “furnished” means. A written lease, clear communication, and a move-in photo record neutralize most of that risk.

Start with our Costa Rica country guide if you are still in the research phase.

Planning your move to Costa Rica? Start with our free resource library for checklists, budget tools, and country guides: get it here.

This guide is for informational purposes only. Rental laws, visa requirements, costs, and tenant protections change — always confirm details with official sources and qualified professionals before making decisions. All costs in CAD unless noted.